"I don't know about this," Penryn said.

"We have holy water, crosses, bibles, a rosary, night vision goggles, flashlights, protein bars, a baseball bat, and chicken blood," her neighbor replied. He gestured to the items, neatly laid out on the floor (except for the chicken blood, which was in the fridge). "I don't know what else we're missing."

"I wasn't talking about that. I mean, actually I am, sort of. Are you sure about this whole exorcism thing?"

Raffe raised a brow. "Look, neighbor, if you're not on board, you can go. No one's making you do this."

"You're the one who asked for my help to get rid of a so-called ghost–"

"Poltergeist."

"–fine, poltergeist. Whatever. If this thing is actually real, should we be the ones trying to fight it? Why don't you just move?"

"Because I'm not going to let some poltergeist-demon-shit chase me off my property–"

"You're renting this house. We have the same landlord."

"I sleep here, my stuff is here, and I'm paying for it–it's my property." Raffe switched on his lighter and started going around the living room, lighting candles. Between the dark wallpaper and high ceilings, Penryn doubted they would be much help illuminating the room if the power went off, which Raffe seemed certain would happen.

"Anyway, we aren't fighting anything. I'll do the fighting, vanquishing, and general exorcising. You're here to be my witness so I know it's not all in my head."

"Great. And if we get dragged into hell, I'm going to use that baseball bat to beat you to death."

He turned to her and grinned. She cursed her own heart for fluttering. Would it have been too much for the universe to give her a new, hot neighbor without making him be a lunatic?

"Scared, Penryn?"

"I'm sitting in my crazy neighbor's living room, when it's nearly midnight. I wouldn't be here if I was scared."

"Don't worry. I'll protect you."

She mock-gagged and crossed her arms. "No thanks. I can take care of myself."

"Maybe I can use you as a virgin sacrifice to appease the poltergeist."

"I'm not a virgin."

Oh, god, why had she said that? Her cheeks burned and she wished a hole would actually open up in the earth to swallow her.

Her stupidly attractive, probably insane neighbor smirked. "I suppose I'll have to figure out something else to do with you."

Penryn's insides did a backflip. Maybe this night wouldn't end with disaster.

Then every single light in the entire house flickered off. Followed by all the candles being extinguished in a single gust of wind.

Raffe dragged off his necklace and slipped it over her head. The cross felt cool against her chest.

A chuckle emanated from deep inside the house, growing louder as the ceiling shook.

Penryn grabbed the bat. Raffe snatched up the holy water and bible. They stood back to back in the middle of the room as the windows crashed shut, one by one.

She knocked her shoulder against his side even as her fingers trembled. "You're not going to let some poltergeist-demon-shit chase you off your property, are you?"

"Like hell I will."

So, hello everyone. I don't really like the two pieces I'm putting up here, but I've been having major writer's block and just want to put something up. And these have been sitting on my computer since forever.